Vodka Penne & Garlic Bread

When I post recipes on this blog, I am going to try and stick to easy recipes that even beginner cooks can make with ease. I want to share with you food that I cook for my family and friends, that is simple enough for even the newest cooks to make without feeling overwhelmed.

Here is a delicious Vodka Penne with Homemade Garlic Bread that I slightly adapted from the Barefoot Contessa.  It is pretty simple yet full of great flavor, Enjoy!

Vodka Penne

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 small yellow onion (diced)

3 cloves garlic (minced)

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tbsp fresh oregano + a bit more for garnish

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup vodka

1 large can of whole tomatoes

salt and pepper

3/4 lb penne pasta

1 cup of heavy cream

1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a dutch oven or large ovenproof pot on medium & preheat oven to 375 degrees F

2. Cook onion and garlic in oil for 5 minutes or until translucent

3. Add the dried oregano and crushed red pepper flakes, stir well

4. Add the vodka, let cook for 1 minute

5. Add the whole tomatoes, crushing them in the pot with the back of your cooking spoon

6. Stir everything well

7. Season with salt and pepper

8. Cover and put in oven for 1 hour

9. Start boiling your pasta water when you take your sauce out of the oven (remember to add salt to your boiling water, before you drop your pasta!)

10. Ladle your sauce into a blender, and whiz up until you have a smooth consistency

11. Pour sauce into a pan, and add the 1 tbsp of fresh oregano and the heavy cream (you will be looking for a creamy consistency)

12. Season again with salt and pepper and let cook for another ten minutes.  At this point your penne should be cooking in the salted water.

13. When the pasta is cooked, drain in and toss with your vodka sauce (keeping it on the warm burner so it does not cool down)

14. Add the Parmesan cheese and stir. Pour into a large serving bowl and sprinkle with extra Parmesan and fresh oregano.

Garlic Bread

Ingredients:

1 loaf of ciabatta bread (cut in half lengthwise)

6 cloves garlic

1/4 cup fresh parsley

1/8 cup fresh oregano

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3 tbsp olive oil (approximately)

butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

1. Whiz up the garlic, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper in a food processor. If you do not have a food processor, you can mince the garlic and herbs by hand and mix all together

2. Heat up the oil in a small pot and cook the mixture for about 30 seconds, making sure not to let the garlic burn

3. Spoon the mixture on one half of the bread, and generously spread butter on the other half of bread

4. Put halves together and wrap the whole loaf in tin foil

5. Put in the oven for 5 minutes, take off foil, let bread sit for a minute or 2 then slice into pieces and serve

I hope you like this delicious and easy pasta dish that has become a regular meal in our home! Give it a try, you will love it!

P.S.  Who do you want Emily to pick on The Bachelorette next week?

Arie or Jef????

I am Team Jef, he is the cutest!

Aww!